This wonderful 1940s movie from Castle Films shows some of the classic illusions that can be created with a still and motion picture camera. The film starts with gimmicks created by starting and stopping a movie camera that has been placed on a tripod, creating the illusion that people and objects are magically disappearing from view (“beam me up Scotty!”) At 1:10 a mirror is used to create a lake with a still camera. At 1:47 the mirror is used to create a “bearded lady”. At 2:00 a movie camera is used to show how the same illusion can be demonstrated. At 2:10 forced perspective is used on the beach to create the illusion of a miniature man. At 2:22 a gag is shown with “the girl who lost her head”. At 3:00 a contortionist illusion is presented. At 3:31 the “human fly” is shown courtesy of turning the movie camera sideways. At 4:00 camera matting techniques are used to create a “split stage”, a complex illusion in that it required the film to be wound back through the camera and double exposed. At 4:53, step printing in an optical printer is used to create various illusions including horses moving backwards. At 5:35 fishermen are shown throwing fish into the water, and then the film is run backwards to show “reverse action” with the fish being put into the boat. At 6;12 Jeeps are shown in various camera stunts and at 6:30 an accident scene between a bike and a car is staged using some camera tricks. At 6:54 an animation stand is used to add a special effect. At 7:23 a double exposure is used to add a “fairy godmother” to a shot. At 8:10 optical printing creates multiple images of a drum majorette — made possible by a prism or other lens.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com